Advice about Living in Pleasant Hill
Parent Q&A
I recommend the Gregory Gardens or Poets Corner neighborhoods in Pleasant Hill. We are in the same age-bracket as you and have lived in Gregory Gardens (right by Strandwood Elementary School) for the past 20 years. The homes were built between 1949-1955 and have a lot of mid-century character. Most homes are between 1200-1900 square feet depending on whether they have been added onto over the years. They have large(ish) front yards and backyards and are on flat lots. No hills to deal with which makes walking a breeze. The weather is perfect if you can tolerate the warmer summers, and there are plenty of swimming pools around including a lovely one in the public park. We can walk to the Contra Costa Canal trail from our home which is also a bike path throughout the county including to downtown walnut creek a few miles away. We can walk to the gym, the park, concerts in the park, grocery store, hardware store, coffee shop, etc all within a mile. Within a 5-10 minute drive is downtown walnut creek. And Concord, Martinez and Lafayette are all close by. The Pleasant Hill Bart station with ample parking is close-by and the public bus system is convenient as well. In these Pleasant Hill neighborhoods you will find a lot more diversity than Lamorinda and Walnut Creek and people are down to earth and friendly.
We moved from Oakland to Pleasant Hill when our youngest, who is now in college, was 2. A few blocks from Strandwood elementary school. The streets are nice and wide and flat and very walkable. Large flat backyards. Kids walk to school, the park, downtown and other places. Lamorinda was out of our price range and I’m glad we didn’t move there in retrospect, as Pleasant Hill is more diverse and more down to earth.
Why not just move to Pleasant Hill, Martinez or Concord…only 20-30 minutes from Oakland. That’s what we did over 15 years ago, and where we live in Pleasant Hill meets the description of what you are looking for. Home prices in nice leafy neighborhoods, while still high compared to other states, are significantly lower than Oakland. Lots of church goers with moderate political views. Lots of racial, economic and political diversity - we are a biracial family as well. Flat streets where the kids all ride around on their bikes and people hang out on their front lawns. Traffic is fine and everything in the Bay Area is within 45 minutes away.
Archived Q&A and Reviews
Sept 2012
Re: Pleasant Hill - should we move to the burbs?
Pleasant Hill is just fine, yes there are liberal folks out there, I grew up there and was vegan and politically active in my teen years. My parents still live there, it's definitely the suburbs, from most neighborhoods you can't walk to much, but you've got the canal trail out there which I remember fondly as a kid taking long bike rides with my dad and brother. I now live in Berkeley in my adult life (just for perspective). A number of my high school friends moved back to the Pleasant Hill/Concord/Martinez area and are really happy there. My main reasons for leaving were that I didn't want to spend my adult life in the town that I grew up in, I can no longer stand the heat, and I want to be within walking distance of lots of businesses. That being said it sounds like Pleasant Hill would be a good fit for you. It's definitely pleasant and there are a lot of activities available out there, you just have to drive to get there. Best of luck to you! Former P.Hill Resident
Thinking of moving from Berkeley to Pleasant Hill
Nov 2011
We are thinking about moving from Berkeley to Pleasant Hill in an effort to get a bigger house and cheaper mortgage. Is there any former Berkeley/Oakland residents who can offer their experience? How are the schools (we have a 1 yr old son)? Are there a lot of family oriented activities? Is there a community like bpn that I could tap into? Are there any grocery stores that can remotely compare to Berkeley Bowl? Any advise/comments/experiences that can be offered would be much appreciated. Undecided
We moved from Oakland to Pleasant Hill a year ago this month. We did so to buy our first home and chose Pleasant Hill because we got more house for the money with good schools and no or low crime. We are very happy we did. No there isn't anything like the Berkeley Bowl but we do have some decent places for great organic vegetables including a local produce market and seasonal farm stand where the veggies are grown just yards away in the field. Both are located on Pleasant Hill Road. Our child attends Strandwood which is an excellent elementary school with tons of parent involvement. Things we miss are the restaurants on the other side of the tunnel but it's not a far drive. The thing I'm thrilled about is a safe neighborhood where my son can head out the door and bike, scooter and play ball with all the other kids on the block and I don't worry. That's how I grew up and I wanted that for my son too. Good luck with your decision. Happy in the burbs
Lamorinda Moms is the group to join. I moved from the rockridge neighborhood of oakland to lafayette last year. It's a big adjustment - def. the burbs. But I'm happy I did it - more space both inside and out, much more green, schools are amazing, way less crime. brenda
2005 - 2009 Recommendations
Thinking about relocating to Pleasant Hill
August 2008
We are looking to relocate to a cheaper place, and the Venn diagram :) of our finances, the fact that we want to stay in Contra Costa, and good elementary schools leaves us with El Cerrito Hills (Madera School) and Pleasant Hill. I like El Cerrito a lot, but Pleasant Hill seems to me to be heavily white and conservative, and we are left-wing, attachment-parenting, organic pagans (one white, one mixed). I assume there are a scattering of other like-minds in PH, but are there significant pockets/neighborhoods filled with folks like us? If my son went to Strandwood Elementary School, would he find other kids who are not watching ''Die Hard'' at age 5 and telling non-Christians that they are going to hell (real-life experience of mine with kids at a PH school)? Thanks in advance!!!
Hi, Yes, there are like-minded families in PH. Some I've met through local mom's groups & Freecycle, some through volunteering & just some from chatting. I don't know of any local organized groups or neighborhoods that would be exactly what you might be looking for, but come join the PTA, local mom's clubs, volunteer & help change what you don't like. Also, when you take people one on one, generally it doesn't matter that your values aren't in exact agreement - don't we all try to do the best for our children & families in the best way we know how? We're a Strandwood family & love it, though would like to see changes in terms of recycling, carpooling, lunches... but how are the changes going to happen without people leading them? Katherine
There is a scattering of us out here in Pleasant Hill with kids attending Strandwood that are conservative when it comes to using natural resources, but not conservative in thought. Yes, there are quite a few Christians and honestly I have more trouble handling extended family members about religious belief than community members. It's more open than you think. From the outside it looks fairly white but when you dig a little deeper, you'd be surprised at the diversity that makes up Pleasant Hill. And we organic-eating, hydrogenated oil-avoiding, alternative therapy-prescribing, long-haired boys-having, blasphemous hippies can always use another heretic amid our surroundings! ;-) LogicalMama
We live in Pleasant Hill and our soon-to-be kindergartener will attend Strandwood. We are a mixed-race, progressive, left-wing family, non-religious. So there you have it. Yes, Pleasant Hill is more middle-of-the-road than some areas across the tunnel but the pros outweigh the cons in my opinion. You will find all sorts of people in Pleasant Hill, conservative, liberal, apolitical, religous, not-religious, etc. You will be able to find a good community of like-minded people. It just may take a while longer to find them. Pleasant Hill has great weather, active and good schools, big backyards, wonderful parks, and great restaurants in nearby Walnut Creek and Concord. People are too busy with their family and work lives to be worried about what religion you practice so I really wouldn't worry about that. Good luck and hopefully we'll run into eachother in Pleasant Hill! content in Pleasant Hill
June 2005
In an effort to find a larger house for a smaller mortgage in the Bay Area, we are trying to figure out where to relocate from Berkeley. I haven't seen Pleasant Hill mentioned too much, so that makes me want to ask about it. We need to live near BART (walking/biking distance) and good schools (our kids will be going into elementary school soon). So what is Pleasant Hill like? Are the schools good? Is there anything to do without getting in the car and driving? What should I look for? Thanks for any and all comments, positive or negative!
Sad to leave Berkeley, need to live cheaper!
I live in Pleasant Hill and formerly lived in Berkeley. Pleasant Hill is a fairly generic place to live. There just isn't anything special or interesting about it. It's very safe and the public schools are highly rated. It's largely white and conservative. It's boring, and pretty much devoid of culture and good restaurants. Given the choice, I would try to stay on the west side of the tunnel. Good luck. anon
I live in Walnut Creek which is near Pleasant Hill. We moved from Berkeley to get a great house and schools. Pleasant Hill has some beautiful areas adjoining Lafayette and Martinez. But, you really need to check the schools. As I understand it, there may be a small area of Pleasant Hill where you get Lafayette schools. (That would be ideal.) Otherwise, from what I hear the public schools are not so good. They have a very good magnet academic elementary but you have to be on the waitlist years in advance. I strongly recommend that you consider Walnut Creek. It is more expensive than Pleasant Hill (but still less than Orinda or Lafayette). Most of the schools are excellent. (Of course, you have to check the three you would get.) Lots of parent involvement. Plus, I didn't know this when I lived in Berkeley but Walnut Creek is a great place to live. It is a well run city, with great activities. Many theaters, arts programs for all ages, great recreational classes, open space and Mount Diablo for hiking and biking. Also, we have BART.
Berkeley Refugee in Walnut Creek
I recieved this information from my friend, who is a realtor in Pleasant Hill:
1. There is a BART station at Treat Blvd. off 680. Walking/Biking distance is relative, but you can generally expect homes close to BART to be a little more in demand, thus a bit more expensive.
2. As for schools, Pleasant Hill has some top-rated schools in the state according to GreatSchools.Net. Here's a link to some data on them: http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/browse_district/51/ca/
3. I live in Pleasant Hill and I love it. I live across the street from the downtown area and Pleasant Hill Park. Pleasant Hill is a family community. It doesn't offer the diversity of Berkeley (but what does?). The downtown area has revived the city as it offers more shopping and dining options. The second half of the downtown area is under construction.
4. The average detached home price in April 2005 was $711,683 while the average attached (condo/townhome) price in April 2005 was $463,454. As of today (05/25/05), there are only two detached homes listed for under $600,000: 1) $535,000 for a 3bd/2ba 1,000+ sqft home and 2) $550,000 for a 3bd/2ba 1,300+ sqft home.
Hope that helps. Brian Mertens Prudential California Realty 925-330-1029 brian.mertens[at]prurealty.com
Erin
I did not read the original post so not sure exactly know what you are asking for. My son and I moved from Oakland to Pleasant Hill last year and absolutely love it. There are lots of kid friendly places & parks - lots of things to do especially if you appreciate the beautiful weather. I work in the city, and just love coming home where it is still warm enough to swim after dinner. We are switching from a private school to a small parent co-up charter school in Concord. I heard there is a waiting list to enter in kindergarden, but no so in the higher grades - 4/5 combined classroom. We got a great feeling from the principal and have talked to several parents and are excited to start this fall. The nice part about Plesant Hill is that it is still close to Oakland & the city. I commute into the city everyday, sometimes I ride BART but mostly I take the casual carpool/bus from Oakland - total commute is never more than an hour in the worst case scenario. Pleasant Hill has many transplants from Berkeley/Oakland and because of the family friendly atmosphere and down to earth kind of values.
glad I moved!
Hi there. We are a bi-racial family and we live in the part of Gregory Gardens that feeds into Standwood. Our children went to Strandwood. Strandwood is a great school - lots of parental involvement. People come from all walks of life there, economically and culturally. The neighborhood is also great. Lots of people walk to school, to the park, to downtown Pleasant Hill and to eachothers homes. Trick or treating and Halloween is a big deal around there. Many people hang out outside, the front lawns are spacious and flat and you will see kids riding their bikes around, etc. Pleasant Hill is only a few minutes from Walnut Creek, Concord and Walnut Creek, each of which is fun in its own way and so we feel that PH is the perfect balance. People tend to be pretty down to earth and neighborly. As for the schools, our kids ended up doing private school for middle and high school, but that would have likely been the case no matter where we lived. Most kids go through the public school system K-12 in PH and they are what you make of them. The high schools in Walnut Creek may have higher API indexes but that is mainly due to the socio-economics of the parents. PH schools are less pressure-cooker like than those schools, and that could be looked at as a benefit.